Mike Johnson (yodeler)

Mike Johnson (born 1946) is an American country music yodeler, singer, and songwriter living in Arlington, Virginia. Also known as Country Music's No.1 Black Yodeler, and Black Yodel No.1.

Raised in a Catholic family in Washington, DC, Johnson began yodeling in the 1950s, imitating the "Tarzan yell" of actor Johnny Weissmuller. Later he would be influenced by the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. Johnson enlisted in the US Navy in 1965 and served two Vietnam tours from 1967 to 1969 on the USS Constellation CVA-64. From his first professional recording session at Globe Recording Studio in April 1981 in Nashville, he released his first 45rpm single "King of the Fish." Later he became a truck driver, in September 1981. Johnson founded Pata del Lobo Music publishing in 1982, and Roughshod Records and You and Me Records in 1987. Since April 1981 Johnson has released 2 45rpm vinyls, 11 cassettes, and 65 CDs.

Awards and recognition
Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa. Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa.
 * Inducted into America's Old-Time Country Music Hall Of Fame by The National Traditional Country Music Association at the 27th Annual Old-Time Country Music Festival, in Avoca, Iowa, September 2002
 * 114 of his yodels were acquired by the Library of Congress' Recorded Sound Reference Center's permanent music collection in April 2007
 * received Lifetime Achievement Award from National Traditional Country Music Association in August 2016 at 41st Annual Old Time Country Music Festival, LeMars, Iowa.
 * Bob Everhart, founder and president of the National Traditional Country Music Association in 1975, passed away at the age of 85 on 20 August 2021. His wife terminated the organization shortly thereafter.

Discography
1981 King of the Fish 45rpm

1983 Mike Johnson's Guitar Songs Vol.1 cassette

1986 Hooked On Rodeo 45rpm

1986 I Believe In Roy Rogers cassette

1986 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette

1993 Black Yodel No.1 the Song the Songwriter cassette

1994 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette

1995 Just a Nobody cassette

1995 Take Time Out cassette

1995 As Long As There Is Music cassette

1996 I Believe In Roy Rogers cassette

1996 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette

1996 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.1 cassette

1999 Black Yodel No.1 the Song the Songwriter CD

1999 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? CD

2000 Country Classics Radio DJ Special CD

2000 King of the Fish CD

2001 Yodeling McDonald Craig CD

2001 Take Time Out CD

2001 A Piano Interpretation by Thanh Bui CD

2001 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs “1983 Collectors Classic” CD

2002 Hooked On Rodeo CD

2002 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.2 CD

2002 Mike Johnson Live! CD

2002 Three Country Music Yodelers CD

2003 Your Cheatin’ Heart CD

2004 Roughshod Records Sampler1 CD

2004 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? 17th Anniversary CD

2004 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? CD

2004 Sammy CD

2004 Here’s to Jim and Tammy CD

2004 Pictures On the Wall CD

2004 King of the Road CD

2006 Music by Mike CD

2006 Mike Johnson Yodeling 40 Years CD

2006 Frank Hunter Singing Favorite Country Classics CD

2007 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.3 CD

2007 The Wall CD

2007 To Monna the Rose of My Heart CD

2007 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.4 CD

2008 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.5 CD

2008 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol. 6 CD

2008 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.7 CD

2008 Please Don’t Squeeze the Charmin CD

2008 Songs For All Ages CD

2009 Yeah I’m a Cowboy CD

2009 Roughshod Records Sampler2 CD

2010 Just a Nobody CD

2010 Mike Johnson & Freddie the Swedish Fiddler CD

2010 Mike Johnson Live at the Songsmith CD

2010 Mike Johnson Live at Whitey’s CD

2010 Mike Johnson Live at Royal Lee’s Deli CD

2010 Mike Johnson Live at Tucson Café CD

2012 Livin’ Lost Love On the Jukebox Again CD

2012 Back Home Again CD

2012 Roughshod Records Sampler3 CD

2012 Roughshod Records Sampler4 CD

2014 Roughshod Records Sampler5 CD

2014 Roughshod Records Pre-Release CD

2014 Old Time Country Songs Pre-Release CD

2014 Doggone It I’ve Written a Sad Song Again Pre-Release CD

2014 Old Time Country Songs Are They Really Dead and Gone? CD

2014 Doggone It I’ve Written a Sad Song Again CD

2014 SideKicks Christmas Special CD

2015 Country Sounds CD

2016 Let Me Die In a Honky Tonk CD

2016 My Heart Still Sees CD

2016 Roughshod Records Sampler CD

2017 Going Places CD

2017 Here We Go Again CD

2017 Covering James Adelsberger CD

2018 SideKicks Antics CD

2019 Cockco Doodle Doo CD

2020 In Memory of Leo P. Maimone CD

2022 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.8 CD

2022 Second Time Around CD

2022 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.9 CD

2022 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.10 CD

2022 Mike Johnson’s Yodel Song Archives CD

Compilations

 * Rough Guide to Yodel (2006)